"Okay, so over here is all the data we have on the Dagu system," Kazu said, leading a human Jedi Knight and her Arkanian padawan over to a small section of a wall filled with datapads. "I wish we could say it's all you'll ever want or need about the system but most of the information concerns the planet the system's named after. Even after all this time, not much has been done to fully research everything surrounding it. But we have some."

"Hmph," the padawan grunted. "You'd think there would have been enough time to do so. Lazy beings. Give the Arkanians a go, we'd have everything known in a matter of—"

"Onross…" the human started. "We've talked about this."

"Yes, Master," Onross said, looking down before pointing his face up at Kazu. "My apologies, Archivist Starskimmer."

"It's okay," Kazu replied. "If either of you need anything else, I'll be at my computer," he continued, turning and walking away to hear the knight reminding Onross of the need for a Jedi to not give into arrogance, even if it was a hallmark of their species.

He reached his computer, sat down, found where he had been reading and resumed his research.

None of this makes any sense, he thought. When the temple began to see beheadings and sacrifices, there was no record of any apparitions appearing, no record of any of the slain coming back to talk or entice anyone. So who was Xinnaa talking to? Maybe the answer lies in what the Sith used that temple for.

"Excuse me," came a voice.

Kazu looked up from his computer to see a Sullustan looking at him.

"How can I help you?" Kazu asked, standing.

"My padawan and I are being sent out towards the Rishi Maze. However, neither he nor I have ever been that way and I was hoping to get everything the archives had available on the area."

"Of course," Kazu said. "There's a few datapads over by that wall over there," he said, pointing to a nearby alcove. "There's a few upstairs as well."

"Thank you," the Sullustan said, walking away.

But before Kazu could get back to his research, So'lia came trotting up with a datapad in her hand.

"You want this checked out?"

"Yes."

"Where's Sa?" He asked, taking it from her.

"Around."

"Fair enough," he replied, punching in a few numbers on his computer. "Here you go," he continued, handing the datapad back to her.

She took it and some wooden tendrils extended from her arm and wrapped themselves around Kazu's hand. She pulled him in so close that he could feel the oxygen emanating from her mouth.

"We care about you," she said, looking into his eyes.

"I—I… know?"

She let him go and Kazu fell back into his seat as she walked away.

"Four words," he said to himself, cocking his head to the side and staring at her leave. "No one's ever going to believe that."

# # #

Tycho gazed out the window, contemplating everything before him.

"Are you ready?" asked a voice behind him.

He spun around to see Master Tailfack staring at him.

"Yes, Master," Tycho replied. "I have been preparing for the Trials of Knighthood since I became a padawan."

"Just what I like to hear," Tailfack said, grinning at Tycho. "Come, the council will give you your instructions," he added, gesturing toward the council chambers.

"One moment though, before the trials begin… I'd like to ask you something about Kazu Starskimmer."

"Very well. What would you like to ask?"

"Well…" Tycho continued. "Our mutual friends, Saa'na and So'lia, along with the Twi'lek he brought back… we're worried that he's letting what happened during his Initiate Trials to consume him. There's also a feeling of longing and desire that we felt from him before his trial. We've all tried to speak with him but our efforts either end up dead or veiled. We care about him and we don't want to see him fall, either to the Dark Side or down a road we can't bring him back from."

Tailfack stood in silence, contemplating and scratching his chin.

"There's not much I can do at the moment," he said. "I've spoken with him about what happened several times, never about feelings of desire or longing though. Honestly, it's something he's either going to have to overcome himself or face the music and ask for help, either from the other Masters and I or the four of you. The Order has come a long way from banning any and all forms of relationships. Friendship and love can be strong tools of the Force if approached correctly. Just be there for him and refuse to take no for an answer."

"Yes, Master," Tycho responded.

"Now… shall we begin your trial?"

# # #

Says here that after the Sith took the temple for their own, they used it as a main base of operations for a few decades during the Great Sith War. It was the main place for… mental torture of the enemies they managed to capture, some of which were turned into brainwashed assassins. Many others died within the temple and once the Jedi took control of the system from the Sith, the temple remained abandoned. Those who travel near it never stay for long and report to have felt the lingering effects of the darkness that plagued the temple for those many years..

Kazu exited out of the page and looked at the time and then over to the pile of datapads that had been returned since the day before. He rose and started to sort through them.

That may explain why Xinnaa tried to dive off the edge so soon after I started trying to talk with her. Who knows how long she was there and what that lingering darkness was doing to her. Could have been the same darkness I felt.

# # #

Khondo sat at his table, eating alone with his right hand man, Aldreck, standing behind him when one of his servants walked in. He looked up from his food.

"Speak."

"My lord," the man said. "We have gained information on the young Kazu Starskimmer and left a few crumbs to entice him to keep looking into matters."

"Good," Khondo replied. "Soon, he will stumble into the snares I have put into place for him. Snares that he will find impossible to escape."

"Sir, if I may… the boy is merely an archivist in the temple. Surely you would rather go after someone with plans of furthering their training? Maybe another initiate? Or a Padawan who might be showing—"

The servant began choking and clawing at his collar. Khondo watched before standing from his table and walking over without a word. He stood in front of the servant whose eyes were starting to bulge and had now moved to one knee. After a few more seconds, the servant could breathe but stayed on the knee to catch his breath. Khondo picked him up by the collar and held him in the air.

"Oh, it would be easier," he spat. "But this… this is the boy who caused me to lose the fish I had been luring in previously. He presents a unique challenge; his power would be a joy to control. And you want me to focus on someone easier?"

He dropped the servant and walked away. The man rose to his feet and when Khondo was back at the table, he spun around and, in one motion, pulled him in through the Force, produced a lightsaber, ignited it to reveal a red blade, and beheaded the servant. The body and head dropped with two muffled "thuds."

"I have plans for this boy," Khondo said, extinguishing the lightsaber and looking at Aldreck. "No one will stand in my way."